Pisgah Fly Masters readies for annual competition

The fourth annual Pisgah Fly Masters fly-fishing tournament, sponsored by the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Outfitters, is scheduled for March 19 and 20 in Transylvania County.

A casting competition on March 19 will test anglers skills in accuracy and distance. Winners will go on to the catch-and-release trout fishing finals, to be held March 20 on the Davidson River.

Anglers compete in one of three categories: fisherman, professional and youth under 16.

All money raised will go toward programming at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission site with exhibits and programs on mountain ecology located on U.S. 276 between Waynesville and Brevard.

Entry fees are $30 for youth (ages 10 to 15); $50 for anglers 16 and older; and $50 for the professional level. Entrants registered by March 3 will receive a 2011 tournament T-shirt. For rules, a prize list and entry forms, go to www.ncwildlife.org/pisgahflymasters. 828.877.4423.

The Naturalist's Corner

I had originally intended to spend today (Monday, Feb. 16) doing a couple of short surveys for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. But Sunday morning amid more and more (and more and more dire) weather forecasts warning of some pretty heavy winter weather coming our way I began to contemplate counting Sunday instead. Around 9 a.m. Sunday I peeked out the downstairs window. Well, in my yard were 17 wild turkeys. It looked like a large group of jakes and gobblers.